Faraday to Benjamin Abbott   28 September 1812

Septr. 28th. 1812.

Dear Abbott:

I plead guilty to your criticism on the word task and earnestly beg pardon for any offence my expression may have been calculated to give[.] I trust so much in your goodness I have no doubt you will grant it and set at ease and liberty your Humble Servant - least I should err again I will hurry on to Philosophy where I am a little more sure of my ground - Your card was to me a very interesting a pleasing object[.] I was highly gratifyed in observing so plainly delineated the course of the Electric fluid or fluids (I do not know which)[.] It appears to me that by making use of a card this prepared you have hit upon a happy illustrating medium between a conductor and a non-conductor had the interposed medium been a conductor the Electricity would have passed in connection through it it would not have been divided - had the medium been a non-conductor it would have passed in connection and undivided as a spark over it but by this varying and disjoined conductor it has been divided most effectually[.] Should you pursue this point at any time still farther it will be necessary to ascertain by what particular power or effort the spark is divided whether by its affinity to the conductor or by its own repulsion or if as I have no doubt is the case by the joint action of these two forces it would be well to observe and ascertain the proportion of each in the effect[.] These are problems the solution of which will be difficult to obtain but the Science of Electricity will not be complete without them and a Philosopher will aim at perfection ‘tho he may not hit itdifficulties will not retard him but only cause a proportionate exertion of his mental faculties.

I did not before know the date of your Lecture ‘tis a long time I hope to hear you before then - It is somewhat singular that your volunteers are so forward it will make up for the deficiency of your regulars[.] Had they come after yours it would have been better[.] I thank you for a view of the outline of Electrical Lectures when do they commence - As they will last so long I hope to hear the greater number of them as an M.C.P.S. - Mr. Shepherd¹ is apparently a very frequent Lecturer[.] I hope he satisfies you[.]

I had a very pleasing view of the Planet Saturn last week through a refractor with a power of ninety[.] I saw his ring very distinctly ‘tis a singular appendage to a planet to a revolving globe and I should think caused some peculiar phenomena to the planet within it[.] I allude to their mutual action with respect to Meteorology and perhaps Electricity[.]

Some time since I had soaked some flannel discs in a strong solution of the Muriate of Soda but not having immediate use for them I threw them wet into a cupping glass there they have till now remained and on looking at them lately I was highly pleased to see the effect that had taken place by the evaporation the salt did not crystallize in the flannel or at least not all of it but had issued out as it were from the edges of the discs up the sides of the glass in irregular but concentric lines forming shapes very similar to current leaves[;] these crystallizations increase in size even now and at present one part of them has turned over the top of the cupping glass and descended above half an inch on the outside - does the increase of size in these crystallizations take place at the edges of the flannel discs which is a kind of center to the crystals or at their circumference?

Tatum in his last Lecture on the Alkalies observed that Litharge may be employed to decompose the Muriats in soap Ley - I thought of this whilst looking at the above mentioned discs of flannel[;] a pen had fell into the glass and where the head and point rested on the flannels an oxidation of the Metals had taken place[;] it was apparent by the stain of the copper[.] I have little doubt that some portion of the Muriate of Soda was decomposed as it appeared not to be the oxide but the M of C that coloured the disc[.]

Whilst on this subject I will notice the state of a small galvanic battery that was piled up six weeks or two months ago tho its apparent galvanic action has ceased yet all action is not dead[;] in it an oxidation of the Zinc goes on even now the oxide as it is formed exudes (if I may so say) from the edges of the discs and falls down so as to cover all round the base of the battery with a white coat or carpet - this formation of the oxide takes place more rapidly at the bottom of the pile than at the top.

I cannot spare more time at present than to desire my respects to all friends and to ask where & how is your brother[.] You know well that to yourself belongs the earnest & hearty wishes of

Your Friend | M. Faraday

I humbly apologise to you Dear A- for the careless manner in which I have noted down the phenomena of the stale battery[.] I first wrote down what appeared to be the fact and then proceeded to prove it thus doing last what required the first attention[.] On separating two of the discs & applying my tongue to the powder between them I found a strong alkaline taste[.] On collecting some of the powder and pouring on to it a little hot water I obtained an Alkaline solution of considerable strength as proved by its effects on test paper[.] On adding an Acid Carbonic acid gas was liberated which of course was before combined with the Alkali. From these circumstances I draw the following conclusions[.] During the galvanic action the Muriate had been decomposed the Alkali for the most part proceeding towards the copper discs a Muriate of Zinc would then be formed[.] On the cessation of the Galvanic action the Alkali began a decomposition of the Metallic Muriate by its own superior affinity for the Acid and it is by its thus regaining its former station that the oxide of zinc is set free. The slowness of action is to be attributed to the want of moisture[.]

I am ashamed to dwell so long on so trivial a subject but the former error made a clear explanation necessary as such I have given the above and shall now cease - waiting with impatience for a letter to

M. Faraday

Address: Mr. B. Abbott | Long Lane | Bermondsey